§ 68. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a deputation of women workers from the Pimlico Army and Navy Clothing Stores marched to the War Office on Wednesday, 2nd July, and that, whilst standing outside the War Office, one of the young women was badly kicked by a man, who was arrested by Inspector Nevill and was taken to the Cannon Row Police Station, and that it was then found out that it was a plain-clothes policeman; if he is aware that the young woman that had been badly kicked was told that she had better not make a charge against Collins because he would be punished by the superior officer; and if he intends taking any action to punish Policeman Collins for committing such an unwarranted and unprovoked assault?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have made inquiry and cannot find that any such incident as is described in the question occurred near the War Office. There is no foundation of any sort for the statement that a plain clothes officer was arrested, and that a woman was advised not to prosecute him. What, as I am informed, actually happened, was that on the afternoon in question the police, acting under the Sessional Order of this House, prevented a number of women from passing in procession through Millbank Street, and subsequently a young woman who had, with a number of others, endeavoured to force her way through the police lines, complained that 411 she had been hurt. A medical examination, however, discovered no sign of injury. If the young woman was in fact hurt it is much to be regretted, but the police were only discharging a necessary duty without using any unnecessary force.